/ bruːt; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
(sometimes humorous ) a man who treats people in an unkind, cruel way :
His father was a drunken brute.
You've forgotten my birthday again, you brute!
2.
a large strong animal
3.
a thing which is awkward and unpleasant
■ adjective [ only before noun ]
1.
involving physical strength only and not thought or intelligence :
brute force / strength
2.
basic and unpleasant :
the brute facts of inequality
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French brut(e) , from Latin brutus dull, stupid.